TEL AVIV, Israel (AP), February 14, 2026.— The charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced that it is suspending some operations at one of the largest hospitals in Gaza that still work, because patients and staff reported seeing armed and masked men prowling through different parts of the building.
He Hospital Nasser, in Jan Yunisis one of the few hospitals that still function in Gaza. Every day it serves hundreds of war patients and woundedand was a major center for Palestinian prisoners that Israel released in exchange for Israeli hostages as part of the current peace deal. cease-fire.
The announcement of MSF is unusual from an international organization about the presence of armed men in or near medical facilities in Gaza since the beginning guerra more than two years ago.
Serious threats at Gazza hospital
In a statement, MSF reported that suspended all non-critical medical operations in it Nasse Hospitalr due to security breaches that represented “serious security threats to our teams and patients”.
“The teams of MSF “They have reported a pattern of unacceptable acts, including the presence of armed men, intimidation, arbitrary detentions of patients and a recent situation of suspected movement of weapons,” he listed.
Although the suspension occurred in January, it was first disclosed in the “frequently asked questions” section of the website. MSF. It is not known when the entry was published, but the site indicated that it was updated on February 11.
MSF He explained that he made the difficult decision after an increase in the number of sightings of armed men in different parts of the hospital complex, reported by patients and staff, since the October ceasefire was reached, mediated by the United States.
The armed men were seen in areas where the group did not operate.
Besides, MSF He said he could not indicate the affiliation of the gunmen.
He noted that he had expressed his concern to the “relevant” authorities, without giving further details.
He stressed that hospitals must remain neutral and civil spaces.
He added that his concerns were intensified by previous deliberate Israeli attacks on health facilities.
War attacks against hospitals in Gaza
Throughout the war, which began with the attack led by Hamas in Israel he October 7, 2023, Israel has already repeatedly attacked hospitalsincluding the Nasseraccusing the rebel group of operating in or around them.
Security elements have often been seen Hamas inside hospitalspreventing access to some areas.
Likewise, some of the hostages released from Gaza reported that they spent some time during their captivity in a hospital.
Although Hamas remains the dominant force in areas not under Israeli control, including the Hospital Nasserother armed groups have already proliferated throughout Gaza as a result of the guerraamong them, different groups supported by the Israeli army in the part of the strip controlled by Israel.
The staff of Hospital Nasser He says that, in recent months, the hospital was repeatedly attacked by masked and armed men, as well as rebel groups, despite the police presence.
In this regard, the Home Officedirected by Hamas and who supervises the police in Gazasaid officers would be deployed to protect hospitals and rid them of armed presence.
The agency added that it is already implementing stricter measures to ensure patient safety.
Offensive that decimated the health system in Gaza
Although international law grants hospitals special protections during guerramay lose that immunity if combatants use them to conceal combatants or store weapons, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Even so, must be warned well in advance to allow the evacuation of staff and patients before war operations are carried out.
If damage to civilians derived from an attack is disproportionatewith respect to the military objective, it’s illegalaccording to international law.
Aid groups and human rights organizations maintain that Israel has decimated Gaza’s health systemforcing most hospitals to close while severely harming others.
During the guerraIsraeli forces raided several hospitals and detained hundreds of staff members.
Israel He has also attacked the police in Gaza.
What medical services are withdrawn in Gaza
In his writing, MSF said that will continue to support critical services at Nasser Hospitalincluding departments of hospitalization and surgery for patients with traumatic injuries or burns.
Nevertheless, support for pediatric and maternity wards will endincluding the neonatal intensive care unit. He also indefinitely suspended his outpatient consultations for 3D burn and mental health assessmentamong other services.
In Beit Lahia, in the north of #Gaza📍, our teams care for more than 500 patients every day in a context of extreme needs, providing primary health care.
From there our colleague Roberto Scaini, medical project manager, tells us. pic.twitter.com/wuvBE6KWFP
— Doctors Without Borders (@MSF_Espana) February 14, 2026
Given this, Zaher al-Waheidihead of the records department of the Gaza Ministry of Healthstated that the suspension of MSF would have a great impact, since hundreds of patients they enter daily in the maternity and burn wards.
Likewise, he indicated that the Ministry would assume thecare of maternity patients, but he warned thatBurn victims won’t have many options.
Israel banned MSF from Gaza
Israel already stepped up measures against aid groups operating in Gaza and in West Bank busy, including MSF.
The group of MSF It is one of more than three dozen whose operation was prohibited Israel in the Fringe for not complying with new registration standards.
Given the prohibition, MSF highlights that the decision of Israel will have a catastrophic impact on your work in Gazawhere it does the following:
- Provides international financing and staff for six hospitals.
- It operates two field hospitals and eight primary health centers, clinics and medical points.
- Manage two of the five Gaza stabilization centershelping children with severe malnutrition.
The impact of the war in Gaza
Although the most intense fighting has already subsided, the fragile cease-fire It is marked by Israeli fire almost daily.
Israeli forces carry out repeated airstrikes and frequently shoot at Palestinians near military-controlled areas, killing 591 Palestinians since the ceasefire came into forceaccording to health officials Gaza.
He Israeli Army He said his troops “eliminated” a person in northern Gaza who crossed the line that divides the territory and approached them.
He Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 72,051 Palestinians have already died in the warat least.
The body, which is part of the government headed by Hamasmaintains detailed records of victims that are generally considered reliable by UN agencies y independent experts. It does not provide a breakdown between civilians and combatants.
The rebels have carried out shooting attacks against the troops, and Israel He claims that his offensives are a response to that and other violations. Four Israeli soldiers have already died.
Leave a Reply